Bootjack.



NITED STATES.

PATENT Patented March 14, 1905.

FFICEe BOOTJACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,015, dated March 14, 1905.

Application filed June 11, 1904:. Serial No. 212,185.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. McDoNALD, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Port Madison, in the county of Kitsap and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bootjacks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bootjacks, and has as its primary object the provision of a simple, durable, and inexpensive construction which when not in use can be knocked down, and thus caused to assume a more compact form, thereby occupying but little space.

A further object of my improvement consists in providing means whereby it can be readily held from wabbling by the party removing his boots and further meanswhereby the boot-engaging frame or rest can be readily swung to an inoperative or closed position.

Further objects and advantages will be more fully set forth in the following description and those points upon which I desire patent protection defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improvement, the same being disclosed in full lines in an inoperative position and in dotted lines in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, illustrating the application of my improved bootjack, which is shown in position for removing the boots; and Fig. 4: is an end view of the boot-removing frame and shows a portion of the link connected therewith.

In carrying out my invention I provide an upright frame 1, which is formed of a single bar of metal bent centrally upon itself, and the side portions of the frame thus formed are adjacent their fixed upper ends bent to form a loop or open handle 2. From this loop the side portions of the frame are continued downwardly in straight planes and in contacting relation to provide a slideway 3, at the lower ends of which they are curved outwardly, as at 4:, and then continued in parallel legs 5, the lower portions or feet of which are slightly flared, as at 6, for an obvious purpose.

Pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 7, to the legs 5 and projecting therebetween is a boot removing or engaging frame 8. This frame is of elongated form and is preferably formed by bending a bar or strip of metal to approximate U shape, across the closed end of which extends a flexible means, as 9, for engaging the toe of the boot being removed. The free end portions of this strip of metal have their lower edges inclined relatively to their upper edges, and between these end portions I secure in any desired manner a block 10 of any suitable material-for instance,wood or fibrous composition the side edges of which block correspond in shape to the shape of the said end portions of the frame,whereby a supporting heel 11, which extends across the frame, is provided. The frame 8 while in its operativeor open position is at an inclination to the upright frame 1, and consequently it will be clearly apparent that the heel 11 assists in holding the frame rigid, during the boot-removing operation.

Slidably mounted on the slideway 3 is a sleeve 12, the same being formed with a pair of cars 13, between which the upper end of an operating-link 1 1 is pivoted. The lower end of this link is formed with an eye, as 15, in the present instance formed by bending the loop from the adjacent portion of the link, and this eye preferably engages the toe portion or closed end of the frame 8,which latter is notched on its under edge to prevent lateral displacement of said eye.

In operation (see Fig. 3) the handle 2 of the jack is grasped, and one foot of the party desiring his boots removed is placed on the heel of the frame 8. Then the boot to be removed is placed in the frame 8, with the toe thereof extending beneath the flexible toe-engaging 'part 9 and the heel thereof wedged in the V- shaped notch 1'6 of the block 10. The boot being thus firmly grasped, an upward movement of the foot will readily free it from the boot. This operation, as will be obvious, is repeated to remove the other boot, and when use of the jack is no longer desired the handle 2 and sleeve 12 are both grasped and the lat- Letters Patent, is

ter drawn toward the former, whereby the frame 8 is swung to a closed position within the bounds of frame 1.

When the frame 8 is in a closed position, the link 14 prevents outward swinging thereof in one direction, and to prevent swinging of the frame in the reverse direction a latch or keeper 17 is swung over the heel end thereof. This latch or keeper 17 is of approximately U shape and has outturned ends journaled in apertures in the legs 5, whereby it is swingingly mounted.

In the foregoing I have described my invention in whatI consider its most practical form. It will be obvious, however, that changes in the minor details of construction can be readily made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations and changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 1

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by l the handle for swinging said second frame, and a link connected to said means and said second-named frame.

4. A bootjack comprising a frame formed of a strip of metal bent centrally to provide i frame side portions and at the juncture therei of formed with a handle, said frame side portions at a point below the handle having straight portions arranged in contacting relation to form a slideway, and then continuing in legs, a second frame pivoted between said legs, aslide mounted on said slideway, and a link pivoted to said slide and to said last-named frame.

5. In a bootjack, a pair of frames, one projecting through and pivoted to the other, a slide on the last-named frame, a link pivoted to said slide and the first-named frame, and a swinging latch for engagement with the firstnamed frame for locking the same in an inoperative position.

6. In a bootjack, an upright open frame, a second frame projecting through and pivoted thereto and normally bearing an inclined relation thereto, said last named frame being formed of a strip of metal bent to approximately U shape, the free end portions there of having their lower edges inclined relatively to their upper edges, a block secured between said portions and having its lower facelying flush with the lower edges thereof, a flexible toe-support extending across the opposite end of said second frame, a slidably-mounted sleeve on said first-named frame, and a link pivotally connected to said sleeve and second frame.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 6th day of June, 1904:.

JOHN J. MCDONALD.

1. A bootjack comprising an upright frame, a second frame pivoted thereto, a means movably mounted on said upright frame for swinging said second frame, and a connection between said second frame and said means.

2. In a bootjack, in combination, an upright frame, a second normally inclined frame pivoted thereto, and being formed with a heel having its lower face disposed to form a broad flat bearing-surface for the frame, means slidably mounted on said upright frame for swinging said second-named frame, and a connection between said means and said second frame.

3. In a bootjack, a frame formed with a handle, a second frame projecting through and pivoted to said first-named frame, a means on said first-named frame movable to and from Witnesses:

ARLITA ADAMS, JOHN J. ALLEN. 

